Kyrgyz authorities say a 19-year-old medical school student from Kyrgyzstan's southern Osh region is "fighting" on the side of Islamic State militants in Syria.

Osh regional police said on October 6 that the young woman, whose name was not disclosed, had traveled to Syria via Turkey in July.

Regional authorities have launched an investigation into the case.

Osh regional police chief Suiun Omurzakov says jihadist groups are recruiting female students from Osh's medical school to work as nurses in Syria, promising them high salaries and arranging their trips to Syria through Turkey.

Authorities say many of the recruiters are Kyrgyz citizens who have been members of Islamic groups that are fighting against Syrian government forces.

Kyrgyz officials estimate there are now about 150 Kyrgyz citizens fighting in Syria as part of the Islamic State militant group or Al-Qaeda's Al-Nusra Front.